yatta!
Buffy's on the backburner. I started renting Heroes and am totally engrossed in that now. On the shallow side, there's Mohinder, who is SO damn pretty. But mostly it's all about Hiro for me. Could he be any more lovable? (Your answer, by the way, is: "no, he could not.") Even before I saw any of the series, I saw Masi on a late night talk show or two and fell under the power of his impossible sweetness. Anyway, I've not yet finished with the first season (spoil me and your life is forfeit), but with a little help from Netflix and the USPS dude, I hope to be caught up in time for the season 2 premiere. That's next Monday (24th), correct?
Even my SPN love has suffered under the hands of Hiro Heroes. Still haven't watched (er, listened to) any of the commentaries on the S2 dvds. However, I gobbled up all the special features on disc 6 as soon as I got home from work Tuesday night, and watched all the deleted/extended scenes too. *draws hearts around the boys*
It's a relief to see that there are no pictures of nasty ghoulies in the S2 packaging. That friggin' scarecrow still gives me the heebie jeebies every time I open the S1 set. I should put a sticker over it or something.
Seems my loyalties have shifted. Just looked up the Emmy nominees. Whereas a year ago I would have rooted for Terry or Michael Emerson, I'm leaning heavily toward Masi now. But I'd be happy with any of them winning. Which means, of course, one of the other three will win. (And if it's William Shatner... could someone please explain that to me? He makes me vomit in my mouth a little.)
Got another BPAL order this past week. They put out their new autumn scents a little while ago, and because it's the best season of the year, I had to splurge on a couple. They must be stepping up their order processing, because I got this shipment 10 days after placing the order (which is at least 10 days shorter than usual, if not 20, 30). Also, got eight free imps, two of which I already had (Pride, Bengal)... but, hey, free. Ok, reviews ahoy:
HUNTER MOON (limited edition)
BPAL description: As the winter encroaches, the time comes to embark on the last Great Hunts of the year. The deer are fattened, the fields have been reaped, and the light of the full moon illuminates the wild creatures that have come out to glean. This scent is redolent of night skies, falling leaves, and the high-pitched tension and release associated with the Hunt. Dry leaves, autumn bonfires, blood red wine, feral, animalistic notes and the chill of approaching winter.
My notes: Wet, it's slightly masculine, though that fades. Complex and dense, it needed a couple of attempts. I tried it first on my wrist, and got a smokiness, like incense, mixed with wet leaves, wine and a "green" scent. After a few minutes, the wet leaf smell went away to be replaced by the scent of crackling leaves. In the crook of my elbow, it started off very green then morphed into a very bitey, smoky, leafy, almost spiced scent. A little feral too. As it faded, it went amber. Strongly amber. Not too bad at all, though not what I was expecting from the description either. It doesn't capture the crispness of autumn, but rather exemplifies the mysteriousness of the season.
PUMPKIN II (limited edition)
BPAL description: Pumpkin with tobacco, champaca flower, carnation, and tonka.
My notes: It starts off smelling kind of dirty and nasty, and not in the good way! But then there's some sort of magical transformation. Suddenly, the initial smell disappears completely and you're left with spicy, almost buttery, warm pumpkiny goodness. The tobacco and tonka play off the pumpkin so well. While this leans toward the foody side, it's not as if you rolled around in pumpkin pie. The florals merely sweeten the scent, and are barely discernible. Does it smell like a pumpkin spice candle? Well, okay, sure... but an exceptionally good one (not the cinnamony, headache-inducing kind). Or a pumpkin chai latte. Rich, warm, cozy and tingling. I really love it.
And the free imps. Or, if you will, frimps....
BLACK CAT (Voodoo Blend)
BPAL description: A very tricky kitty, indeed. Used most often as a key to bringing back the joy one needs to have in life in order for living to feel worthwhile. Brings back a sense of delight in simple pleasures, and creates a surge of childlike curiosity and a youthful sense of fun. This blend can also be used to reverse troublesome lesser crossings, create a playful air of catlike sexuality, and, because cats will be cats, it can also be used to throw minor, irritating or bothersome hexes, causing small amounts of chaos and disruption to your foes.
My notes: IMHO, this does not smell very evocative of a black cat or Poe's "Black Cat," or anything feline and/or dark. There's a very mild citrus quality, some tangy-smokiness, possibly rose geranium. It turns soapy on me. Not bad, it kind of smells like regular Dove soap... which I used to use before switching to their Calming Nights version, so. Not unpleasant. But not exactly something that you'd be clambering to put on. Maybe if I was a Voodoo partitioner this would mean something more to me. *g*
DEE (Bewitching Brews)
BPAL description: John Dee: master of science, alchemy and magic, Hermetic philosopher in the schools of Rosicrucian Christian Mysticism and Platonic-Pythagorean doctrine, and Queen Elizabeth’s astrologer, advisor, cryptologist and spy. With Edward Kelly, he created a field of study and work in Angelic Evocation, and isolated the Angelic language: Enochian. His scent is soft English leather, rosewood and tonka with a hint of incense, parchment and soft woods.
My notes: Initially, it's quite medicinal, in a piney kind of way. Maybe not necessarily pine, but definitely like shoving your nose in a bunch of coniferous needles (not literally, though, ow). Christmassy. Then the leather kicks in, and your nose goes, "furniture polish?" But this one changes. After about 20 or so minutes, the tonka starts to appear, but only vaguely (sadly... I love tonka). But stronger than that is the woody incense smell that this finally morphs into. It's quite masculine and loud. Not to mention tenacious... it's very stubborn about being washed off. It's nice yet, while I wouldn't mind smelling it on someone else, it's not for me.
HI'IAKA (Excolo)
BPAL description: Sister to Pele, Patroness of Hula Dancers, she is a Lady of Hawa'ii, and is caretaker, mother, and beloved of the land itself. The heart of the forest beats along with Her dance, and the air is suffused with Her scent: mai'a, hibiscus, white ginger, akala, na'u, Hawaiian moon flower, yellow ilima, pink lokelani, jewel orchid, and fringed orchid.
My notes: A very pretty scent. Wet, this is delicate, fresh, juicy with a hint of a pepperiness that you get from some mild-climate flowers. Tropics, yes. Although the original notes hold, on dry-down the fragrance deepens and sort of tunnels into something lush and dark and almost creamy, suggesting a non-animalistic/flora-only fecundity. Reminds me of flowers opening at night, that strange shift in the air... a beauty you can't see. LOVELY.
(Ooh, apparently, this one's a brand new addition to the Lab! I feels all special n' stuff.)
LYSANDER (Ilyria)
BPAL description: The course of true love never did run smooth.
Lilac musk, tonka, wood violet, and urbane lime rind, with a Venus-kissed tangle of myrtle, blackberry leaf, and benzoin.
My notes: It's very leafy right from the start. I can detect the tonka next... so it's kind of woodsy but... edible? Heh. Overall, it's a really nice, summery, dreamy scent. Like taking a nap on the moist, rich, earth. :) Yep, EARTHY. Possible leans toward gender neutral, which is not a bad thing. The only downside here is that it has very little throw and fades too much. Luckily, however, it doesn't disappear... I just have to bury my nose in my elbow after an hour to still get it.
SACRED WHORE of BABYLON (Excolo)
BPAL description: And upon her forehead was a name written, Mystery, Babylon the Great, the Mother of Harlots and Abominations of the Earth. An ancient formula that inspires unrepentant decadence, lechery and debauch.
My notes: PISS! Or rather, it most certainly smells like it has jasmine in it which, for me, always overpowers in BPAL scents with its harsh, ammonia-esque smell. There might also be cinnamon in this or something similarly spicy. So, in conclusion: SPICY PISS! I almost wonder if I received a mislabeled bottle though, because most of the forum reviews mention gardenia (which I love), and I'm getting none of that here. Bummer, I really wanted to smell whore-ish.
TEZCATLIPOCA (Excolo)
BPAL description: Lord of the Smoking Mirror, god of sorcery, nighttime, darkness, beauty, war, heroic men, beautiful women, and all material concerns. Tezcatlipoca is the Master Magician, a trickster god and shapeshifter, governing all worldly matters, and is also the Great Tempter, seducing men into evil acts and subsequently punishing them for their transgressions. Deep cocoa laced with patchouli, leather armor, ritual incense, and a touch of Xochiquetzal’s flowers.
My notes: Out of the bottle and fresh on the skin, it screams COCOA. Much as I love chocolate, I don't really want to smell like it (if you've ever driven through the main strip of Hershey, PA, you know exactly what too much chocolate smells like). The patchouli/incense comes in quietly at first. If you've ever had dark chocolate with chilies in it, this smells like that tastes. If it had a color it would be blood-red brown. The patchouli note grows and grows, the leather creeps in a bit too and renders this a little too masculine for me. Plus, it's strong-it's another one that still lingered after I washed it off my arm.
Even my SPN love has suffered under the hands of Hiro Heroes. Still haven't watched (er, listened to) any of the commentaries on the S2 dvds. However, I gobbled up all the special features on disc 6 as soon as I got home from work Tuesday night, and watched all the deleted/extended scenes too. *draws hearts around the boys*
It's a relief to see that there are no pictures of nasty ghoulies in the S2 packaging. That friggin' scarecrow still gives me the heebie jeebies every time I open the S1 set. I should put a sticker over it or something.
Seems my loyalties have shifted. Just looked up the Emmy nominees. Whereas a year ago I would have rooted for Terry or Michael Emerson, I'm leaning heavily toward Masi now. But I'd be happy with any of them winning. Which means, of course, one of the other three will win. (And if it's William Shatner... could someone please explain that to me? He makes me vomit in my mouth a little.)
Got another BPAL order this past week. They put out their new autumn scents a little while ago, and because it's the best season of the year, I had to splurge on a couple. They must be stepping up their order processing, because I got this shipment 10 days after placing the order (which is at least 10 days shorter than usual, if not 20, 30). Also, got eight free imps, two of which I already had (Pride, Bengal)... but, hey, free. Ok, reviews ahoy:
HUNTER MOON (limited edition)
BPAL description: As the winter encroaches, the time comes to embark on the last Great Hunts of the year. The deer are fattened, the fields have been reaped, and the light of the full moon illuminates the wild creatures that have come out to glean. This scent is redolent of night skies, falling leaves, and the high-pitched tension and release associated with the Hunt. Dry leaves, autumn bonfires, blood red wine, feral, animalistic notes and the chill of approaching winter.
My notes: Wet, it's slightly masculine, though that fades. Complex and dense, it needed a couple of attempts. I tried it first on my wrist, and got a smokiness, like incense, mixed with wet leaves, wine and a "green" scent. After a few minutes, the wet leaf smell went away to be replaced by the scent of crackling leaves. In the crook of my elbow, it started off very green then morphed into a very bitey, smoky, leafy, almost spiced scent. A little feral too. As it faded, it went amber. Strongly amber. Not too bad at all, though not what I was expecting from the description either. It doesn't capture the crispness of autumn, but rather exemplifies the mysteriousness of the season.
PUMPKIN II (limited edition)
BPAL description: Pumpkin with tobacco, champaca flower, carnation, and tonka.
My notes: It starts off smelling kind of dirty and nasty, and not in the good way! But then there's some sort of magical transformation. Suddenly, the initial smell disappears completely and you're left with spicy, almost buttery, warm pumpkiny goodness. The tobacco and tonka play off the pumpkin so well. While this leans toward the foody side, it's not as if you rolled around in pumpkin pie. The florals merely sweeten the scent, and are barely discernible. Does it smell like a pumpkin spice candle? Well, okay, sure... but an exceptionally good one (not the cinnamony, headache-inducing kind). Or a pumpkin chai latte. Rich, warm, cozy and tingling. I really love it.
And the free imps. Or, if you will, frimps....
BLACK CAT (Voodoo Blend)
BPAL description: A very tricky kitty, indeed. Used most often as a key to bringing back the joy one needs to have in life in order for living to feel worthwhile. Brings back a sense of delight in simple pleasures, and creates a surge of childlike curiosity and a youthful sense of fun. This blend can also be used to reverse troublesome lesser crossings, create a playful air of catlike sexuality, and, because cats will be cats, it can also be used to throw minor, irritating or bothersome hexes, causing small amounts of chaos and disruption to your foes.
My notes: IMHO, this does not smell very evocative of a black cat or Poe's "Black Cat," or anything feline and/or dark. There's a very mild citrus quality, some tangy-smokiness, possibly rose geranium. It turns soapy on me. Not bad, it kind of smells like regular Dove soap... which I used to use before switching to their Calming Nights version, so. Not unpleasant. But not exactly something that you'd be clambering to put on. Maybe if I was a Voodoo partitioner this would mean something more to me. *g*
DEE (Bewitching Brews)
BPAL description: John Dee: master of science, alchemy and magic, Hermetic philosopher in the schools of Rosicrucian Christian Mysticism and Platonic-Pythagorean doctrine, and Queen Elizabeth’s astrologer, advisor, cryptologist and spy. With Edward Kelly, he created a field of study and work in Angelic Evocation, and isolated the Angelic language: Enochian. His scent is soft English leather, rosewood and tonka with a hint of incense, parchment and soft woods.
My notes: Initially, it's quite medicinal, in a piney kind of way. Maybe not necessarily pine, but definitely like shoving your nose in a bunch of coniferous needles (not literally, though, ow). Christmassy. Then the leather kicks in, and your nose goes, "furniture polish?" But this one changes. After about 20 or so minutes, the tonka starts to appear, but only vaguely (sadly... I love tonka). But stronger than that is the woody incense smell that this finally morphs into. It's quite masculine and loud. Not to mention tenacious... it's very stubborn about being washed off. It's nice yet, while I wouldn't mind smelling it on someone else, it's not for me.
HI'IAKA (Excolo)
BPAL description: Sister to Pele, Patroness of Hula Dancers, she is a Lady of Hawa'ii, and is caretaker, mother, and beloved of the land itself. The heart of the forest beats along with Her dance, and the air is suffused with Her scent: mai'a, hibiscus, white ginger, akala, na'u, Hawaiian moon flower, yellow ilima, pink lokelani, jewel orchid, and fringed orchid.
My notes: A very pretty scent. Wet, this is delicate, fresh, juicy with a hint of a pepperiness that you get from some mild-climate flowers. Tropics, yes. Although the original notes hold, on dry-down the fragrance deepens and sort of tunnels into something lush and dark and almost creamy, suggesting a non-animalistic/flora-only fecundity. Reminds me of flowers opening at night, that strange shift in the air... a beauty you can't see. LOVELY.
(Ooh, apparently, this one's a brand new addition to the Lab! I feels all special n' stuff.)
LYSANDER (Ilyria)
BPAL description: The course of true love never did run smooth.
Lilac musk, tonka, wood violet, and urbane lime rind, with a Venus-kissed tangle of myrtle, blackberry leaf, and benzoin.
My notes: It's very leafy right from the start. I can detect the tonka next... so it's kind of woodsy but... edible? Heh. Overall, it's a really nice, summery, dreamy scent. Like taking a nap on the moist, rich, earth. :) Yep, EARTHY. Possible leans toward gender neutral, which is not a bad thing. The only downside here is that it has very little throw and fades too much. Luckily, however, it doesn't disappear... I just have to bury my nose in my elbow after an hour to still get it.
SACRED WHORE of BABYLON (Excolo)
BPAL description: And upon her forehead was a name written, Mystery, Babylon the Great, the Mother of Harlots and Abominations of the Earth. An ancient formula that inspires unrepentant decadence, lechery and debauch.
My notes: PISS! Or rather, it most certainly smells like it has jasmine in it which, for me, always overpowers in BPAL scents with its harsh, ammonia-esque smell. There might also be cinnamon in this or something similarly spicy. So, in conclusion: SPICY PISS! I almost wonder if I received a mislabeled bottle though, because most of the forum reviews mention gardenia (which I love), and I'm getting none of that here. Bummer, I really wanted to smell whore-ish.
TEZCATLIPOCA (Excolo)
BPAL description: Lord of the Smoking Mirror, god of sorcery, nighttime, darkness, beauty, war, heroic men, beautiful women, and all material concerns. Tezcatlipoca is the Master Magician, a trickster god and shapeshifter, governing all worldly matters, and is also the Great Tempter, seducing men into evil acts and subsequently punishing them for their transgressions. Deep cocoa laced with patchouli, leather armor, ritual incense, and a touch of Xochiquetzal’s flowers.
My notes: Out of the bottle and fresh on the skin, it screams COCOA. Much as I love chocolate, I don't really want to smell like it (if you've ever driven through the main strip of Hershey, PA, you know exactly what too much chocolate smells like). The patchouli/incense comes in quietly at first. If you've ever had dark chocolate with chilies in it, this smells like that tastes. If it had a color it would be blood-red brown. The patchouli note grows and grows, the leather creeps in a bit too and renders this a little too masculine for me. Plus, it's strong-it's another one that still lingered after I washed it off my arm.